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Grove City native and Crew Soccer Academy midfielder Ben Swanson has been included in United States Under-18 Men's National Team Head Coach Javier Perez's 24-man camp in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. this month. The camp began on January 4 and will run through Saturday, January 11 to prepare the United States for the Copa del Atlantico in the Canary Islands next month. Swanson is among 21 players in the camp that come from U.S. Soccer Development Academy squads.

Crew Soccer Academy products Alex Crognale (Maryland) and Connor Klekota (Notre Dame) will play for an NCAA Championship this weekend at the 2013 College Cup at PPL Park in Chester, Penn. Klekota and the Fighting Irish face the New Mexico Lobos in the first Semifinal match, while Crognale and the Terrapins square-off against ACC rival Virginia afterward. The two Academy products could meet in the Final on Sunday.

Crew Youth recently launched its own exclusive line of adidas apparel in the Crew Youth Spirit Wear Store on Soccer.com. Fans, players and parents can choose from a multitude of Crew Juniors and Crew Soccer Academy gear in the online marketplace. From December 2-27, all customers will receive $5 their order.

While the Black & Gold are not in action this weekend after finishing the 2013 MLS campaign on Sunday against the New England Revolution, the Crew's Youth programs will be taking over the Crew Stadium pitch on Saturday. The Crew Soccer Academy U-14, U-16 and U-18 will take on the CSA Wolves of Michigan tomorrow. Come get a glimpse of the Black & Gold's future as the U-18s kick-off the action at 11:00 a.m. ET, followed by the U-16s at 1:15 p.m. ET and the U-14s at 3:30 p.m. ET. Admission is free.

Additionally, it was a big week for Academy product Brandon Silva. The Bowling Green State University midfielder was named to the Capital One All-District Academic Team.

Crew Youth products Ahinga Selemani helped the U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team to a second-place finish at the Limoges Tournament in France last week. The U.S. went 2-0-1 in the competition, beating the Czech Republic and Poland and earning a draw against France.

The Crew Soccer Academy Wolves' Selemani started all three matches of the tournament, providing a tally in the 2-0 victory over Poland. CSA's Swanson came on as a substitute in the win against the Czech Republic.

United States U-18 Men's National Team Head Coach Javier Perez announced his 18-man roster for an upcoming four-team tournament in Limoges, France. Included in the roster are Crew Soccer Academy midfielder Ben Swanson and CSA Wolves' forward Ahinga Selemani.

The U.S. will face France, Czech Republic and Poland in the tournament that runs from October 9-13. This is the first major tournament for the cycle of players that will compete in the 2015 U-20 CONCACAF Championships with a goal of advancing to the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

For the second time this season, Homegrown midfielder Wil Trapp has been named Soccer by Ives Rookie of the Week following the Crew's 3-0 win over the Chicago Fire. Pairing in central midfield with Tony Tchani in the victory, Trapp completed 88-percent of his passes to help kick-start the Black & Gold attack.

Since returning from the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Turkey this summer, the rookie has started all 12 matches for the Crew.

Described as the “crown jewel” of the Crew Youth Academy by Columbus Crew Technical Director, Brian Bliss, Homegrown Player Wil Trapp has been the subject of some high praise recently.

Following his MLS debut, where he started and played the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 victory over Portland, Crew Head Coach Robert Warzycha had equally high plaudits for the 20-year-old.

“We knew that when it was time he could step on the field and do a good job. He’s a good player,” said Warzycha postgame last Sunday. “He played for the Academy and we signed him because we knew what he could do and what kind of player he is.

“He grew up here, in Columbus, so we knew when it was time he could step on the field and do a good job. He's a good player.”

Playing as the lone holding midfielder, in a slightly altered Crew formation, Trapp impressed in his MLS debut. He completed the highest percentage of passes of any player on the pitch (86.0%) and won the ball back for the Crew twice as many times as conceded possession (17 wins to 8 losses). The new formation perhaps suited Trapp, who had a similar role while Portland’s Head Coach, Caleb Porter, while at the University of Akron.

Porter is not surprised that Trapp has continued to impress in his young career since leaving Akron. “He’s got a bright future. Obviously I had him on my radar, recruitment wise, for a long time, being at Akron, and being that he was an Ohio guy. I knew he would do well at the professional level.”

“He’s a very technical player. He’s a player that tactically gets it,” said Porter of his former midfielder postgame. “He’s a smart player. Technically and tactically he’s one of the most talented players I’ve ever been with.

Trapp demonstrated his tactical awareness and that despite his age, the Gahanna product is able to perform on the big stage. In two seasons at Akron, Trapp started all 55 matches, tallying one goal and eight assists from his deep-lying midfield role. Perhaps his greatest attribute, however, is his ability to control the midfield. His strength and positioning on and off the ball allows for his teammates in the midfield more freedom to operate.

In his two seasons at Akron, midfielders scored almost half of the team’s goals as the Zips found 40 of a total 94 goals (42.6%) from midfielder contributions. So it should come as no surprise to Crew fans that in Trapp’s first MLS start, a midfielder scored as winger Bernardo Anor netted his second tally in as many contests.

Trapp’s return to Columbus comes on the heels of U-20 World Cup experience in Turkey, where he started all three matches and captained the United States in the clash against France. While on international duty, Trapp has made a strong impression on U.S. Soccer, as he is the only U-20 men’s player to make an appearance in every match in 2013.

Time will tell how Trapp is utilized in Warzycha’s lineup, but Sunday was a strong demonstration as his debut in front of the Black & Gold fans earned the rookie “Barbasol Man of the Match” honors.